CHICAGO – Neil Patrick Harris, just at the age of 44, is already a multi-generation entertainer. He began as a teenager on TV’s “Doogie Howser, M.D., generated laughs on “How I Met Your Mother,” and for awhile was a go-to awards show host. Now he’s an author, as he debuts his Middle Grade Series “The Magic Misfits!” Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com got Exclusive Photos of Harris at his book launch at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge, Ill., sponsored by Anderson’s Bookshop.

Harris was born and raised in New Mexico. After high school, he was discovered at a drama camp by playwright Mark Medoff, who cast the young actor in his first film when he adapted “Clara’s Heart” (1988). One year later he began a four season run in one of his signature roles, as genius teenager and doctor “Doogie Howser, M.D.” He broke out as an adult actor in 1995’s “Animal Room,” and followed up in high profile roles in “Starship Troopers” (1997) and “The Next Best Thing” (2000). His star rose further when he took on the role of Barney, a flagrant and funny womanizer, on nine seasons of “How I Met Your Mother.” While doing that series, he also skewered his image in the “Harold & Kumar” series of movies.

Harris also became an awards show host of note, beginning with the Tonys (2009. 2011-13), then the Emmys (2009 and 2013) and finally the Academy Awards (2015). He made a little history on the Oscars that night, becoming the first openly gay man to host movie’s biggest night (Harris proudly came out in 2006). As a quadruple threat – singing, dancing, acting, comedy – he has appeared on Broadway in “Cabaret” (2003), “Assassins” (2004) and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2014).

Recently, Harris has returned to film, with “Gone Girl” (2014) and “Downsizing” (2017), but he is also known as Count Olaf on the 2017 Netflix series “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” based on the “Lemony Snicket” books. “The Magic Misfits!” is Book One in a scheduled four-book series of Middle Grade novels Harris is writing. He had previously written his memoir, “Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography.”

Neil Patrick Harris is the Host with the MostPhoto credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took these Exclusive Photos of Neil Patrick Harris before his sold-out Q&A event at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge, Ill., on December 8th, 2017. The meet-and-greet was sponsored by Anderson’s Bookshop of Naperville.

“The Magic Misfits!” by Neil Patrick Harris, is available at Anderson’s Bookshop or wherever books are sold.

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CHICAGO – “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way … “ And there is no more appropriate way to lyrically pay tribute to a classic staging of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical, “West Side Story.” There is a new staging currently at Lyric Opera of Chicago, which runs through June 2nd, 2019. Click here for more details and tickets.

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